Light and Airy: Baking the Perfect Sponge Cake in Easy Steps

"Light and Airy: Baking the Perfect Sponge Cake in Easy Steps"

Hello, fellow bakers! Today I'm going to share with you my secret recipe for making the perfect sponge cake. A sponge cake is a classic dessert that can be enjoyed plain or with your favorite frosting, filling, or fruit. It's light, airy, and moist, and it melts in your mouth. But how do you achieve that fluffy texture and delicate flavor? Follow these easy steps and you'll be baking like a pro in no time!

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan) and grease a 20cm round cake tin. You can also line the bottom and sides with parchment paper for easier removal.

Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk four eggs and 150g of caster sugar with an electric mixer until pale and thick. This will take about 10 minutes, so be patient. You want the mixture to form a ribbon when you lift the whisk.

Step 3: Sift 150g of self-raising flour and a pinch of salt over the egg mixture and gently fold it in with a metal spoon or a spatula. Do not overmix or you'll lose the air bubbles.

Step 4: Pour the batter into the prepared tin and smooth the top. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.

Step 5: Let the cake cool slightly in the tin before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 6: Enjoy your sponge cake as it is or decorate it with whipped cream, jam, fresh berries, chocolate ganache, or whatever you like. The possibilities are endless!

I hope you liked this recipe and found it easy to follow. Let me know how your sponge cake turned out in the comments below. Happy baking!